by André Onana was accused of making his team-mates nervous and inviting opponents to implement a shoot-em-up policy after his “disastrous” mistakes left Manchester United on the brink of elimination from the Champions League.
Erik ten Hag’s £47.2m summer signing from Inter Milan made two glaring errors when conceding free kicks to Hakim Ziyech, then conceded at his near post to allow Galatasaray to claim a 3-3 draw .
Former United midfielder Paul Scholes said Onana’s concentration is poor and makes simple saves difficult. Owen Hargreaves, for his part, questioned his technique after the errors at Rams Park. Stephen Warnock described his mistakes as disastrous.
“Coaches have to take responsibility for their signings,” Scholes said. “It’s a shame because he’s looked good in recent weeks. He makes unconventional saves and in the Champions League I think he is too relaxed and lacks concentration. For a goalkeeper, concentration is everything.
Of Onana’s second goal conceded, Scholes added: “It’s a terrible mistake and I’m not sure what he’s trying to do. He makes his entire team nervous, makes simple saves look difficult and even the third goal, I don’t think should be beaten. It seems like he’ll concede every time, so teams will just say “shoot him.”
“You can’t legislate for goalkeepers’ mistakes and that happens too often now. “I don’t know what they do about it now.”
Hargreaves, a Champions League winner with United, added: “They were great moments in the game. They had control of the match and there was a mistake by Onana. They are making mistakes that cannot be made in the Champions League and conceding soft goals.
“His technique seems unconventional. There is more pressure being a goalkeeper at Manchester United, he has played important games before and is confident but he has made mistakes that weigh on him. These are things he can fix with the goalkeeping coach. Those simpletons that jump around you will have to sort them out. “The players will keep trying.”
Warnock, speaking on BBC 5 Live, added: “Manchester United should have won this game. André Onana has disappointed them.
“I don’t think Onana should be beaten at the near post. Your positioning has to be better. He let his team down tonight and I don’t like saying that. “We have to do better in a game of this magnitude.”
“That is a mistake by the goalkeeper. [for the first goal]. I shouldn’t go in there because it’s on her side. He bets. That’s a big mistake by Onana. Onana is having a terrible night and a night he will be desperate to forget. He puts it in his own goal. [for the second goal]. Disastrous.”
The goals conceded by Onana came with United leading
1. Hakim Ziyech (29 minutes)
United were in control when Bruno Fernandes conceded a free kick defending a counter-attack. Onana built a poor defensive wall and the Galatasaray players created a gap once they moved out of the way. Onana was on the wrong side of his goal and Ziyech’s shot went straight to the center. “The goalkeeper should have saved him. It was fatal to go to that left side,” Scholes said on TNT Sports.
2. Ziyech (62 minutes)
Similar distance, this time more towards the left side of the area. Ziyech’s free kick was headed straight for Onana and should have been easily intercepted, although he skidded in front of the Cameroonian international goalkeeper. Onana appeared to try to clear the ball, but it twisted over the line.
“What the hell is the Manchester United goalkeeper doing there?!” 😳
André Onana won’t want to see that goal returned as Hakim Ziyech’s set piece returns another for Galatasaray!#UCL pic.twitter.com/o0R7vzaCdO
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 29, 2023
3. Kerem Akturkoglu (71 minutes)
Galatasaray’s equalizer was an excellent shot from their substitute Akturkoglu, but it still went to the near post of Onana’s goal. Scholes, analyzing the game like an expert, suggested that it should have been saved.
Ten Hag criticizes defense, but refuses to blame Onana
Ten Hag was heavily critical of United’s defense but refused to blame Onana after two more errors by the goalkeeper proved costly against Galatasaray.
United have scored 14 goals in five Champions League games, but Ten Hag chose not to criticize Onana despite his dismay at the goals his team conceded.
“We win and lose together,” said the United manager. “He [Onana] Alright. Like I said, it’s not about individuals. Individual mistakes in football can make a difference and one takes responsibility for it, but it is always a team thing.
“We played so well that I have to congratulate the team, but I also have to criticize them. We are not defending well enough.
“We are winning 3-1 and that makes the difference. In the Champions League they punish you for it [mistakes] so we have to learn from it.
“I am responsible for this (dropping clues). But know that we are in a project, we are moving forward and improving. I am confident that we will be successful in the long term. “I’m disappointed because we should have won the game.”
Onana had wildly celebrated United’s second goal but Ten Hag rejected suggestions his goalkeeper had lost concentration, preferring to praise Ziyech’s free kicks.
“It’s hard to make that connection, to see it as a cause or a relationship with the blur,” he said. “It’s Hakim’s genius, the first free kick. In that way he has scored many goals against the best goalkeepers in the world.”
Fernandes bemoaned United’s defense and profligacy, and Facundo Pellistri squandered a glorious chance late on. “We concede really bad goals,” said the United captain. “We had too many opportunities to score another goal and close the game. And we are not clinical enough.
“Every time we concede a goal we have a good chance of scoring again. We have to control our games.
“It’s not the first game we’ve had like this. Even Copenhagen we had 3-2, you have to be smart enough and manage the game better. “Everyone has to step forward and take responsibility for their own mistakes.”
